Partitions

[Scorpiоn]

After I sort out a replacement CPU (hope it didn't damage the mobo), I'm going to be reformatting the hard drive.  I'd like to get multiple hard disks, but I already have 250GB and...  ...you see where I'm going with this.

With Windows XP and a 250GB Hitachi drive, what have I got to worry about?  Are there multiple methods of doing so?  I've only heard of FDisk.  Is partitioning beneficial other than logistical reasons?  Harmful?  Should I make provisions for anything special?  I seem to recall partitioning for virtual memory or swap file.  Does this ring a bell?  Who shall run the gauntlet today?

Planned:

• Operating System {5GB, will remian untouched}
• Programs (Utilities) {25GB}
• Games {50}
• Design (Photoshop) {10GB}
• Media (musak) {50GB}
• Auxiliary

Reccomendations?

[Iroquois]

From what I know, what partitioning does is create several "virtual" hard disks. It allows the computer to store and retrive data easier. It doesn't have to search through mountains of data. It should increase retreval time.

I've heard Norton's Partition Magic is supposed to be good and easy to use.

[Skittles]

I seem to recall partitioning for virtual memory or swap file.

If you're going to have only one physical drive, there's no need to move the swap file. If you have a second physical drive, then you want it on the second drive so Windows can do it's thing on both at the same time.

Planned:

• Operating System {5GB, will remian untouched}
• Programs (Utilities) {25GB}
• Games {50}
• Design (Photoshop) {10GB}
• Media (musak) {50GB}
• Auxiliary

Reccomendations?

I have Win2k, most people say it's very simular to WinXP. I wouldn't know. Anyway, I tried putting four partitions on my 250GB SATA drive. Win2k didn't like that and kept reporting the whole drive as a single unformatted drive. When I changed it to three partitions, it worked fine. So if you encounter that problem, you now have a solution.

I still use Ranish Partition Magic. It's an older version run through Dos 6.22. Fdisk should work if you have a DOS bootable floppy.

I thought WinXP had partitioning software, but again, I don't know.